Feeding mechanism for vending-machines.



E. H. KELLEY. moms MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. IBM).

l I U I 1 MM :7 I\ 8 g 8 J a F m L ow E. H. KELLEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3,19I0.

1 ,265,78. Patented May 14, 1918.

, 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES E. HfKEL LEY. FEEDING MECHANISM FORVENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3. I910.

,1918. 6 SHEETS-"SHEET 3.

I/VVE/VTOH.

' ATTORNEY Patented May 14 E. H. KELLEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3, ISIO.

Patented May 14, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES E. H. KELLEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC-3. I910.

1,265,788 Patented May 14, 1918.

o k 1 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES E. H. KELLEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MAC HINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3. .9l0.

Patented May H, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

DIHI

INVENTO. BY i m-ffizw AT OR/VEY I WITNESSES 1 6 ELIAS H. KELLEY, or new YORK, .NZ'Y.

FEEDING MECHANISIYE FUR VENDING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. p e e m n, 3913,

Original application filed December 17, 1909, Serial No. 538,638. Divided and this application filed l cccmber 3,1316. Serial No. 595,339. e

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, ELrAs KELLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, cit county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Feeding Mechunism for Vending-Machines, of which the following is a. description.

'l his invention has reference to vending machines and, particularly, to feeding mechanism. for the coin-controlled apparatus cepnble of vending ordelivering one or a plurality of articles as may be desired eccording to the coin deposited; and this invention has been divided from my application filed December 1?, 1909, #533,638, in which letter said feeding mechanism is shown embodied in a machine demonstrating its efficacy for feeding and delivering fiat articles from a web or continuous strip in reel form.

Among the objects of my vention may be noted the'following: to provide a feeding mechanism capable of delivering one or more articles according to a predetermined rule of action imposed upon the mechanism; to provide a feeding mechanism which, when it has performed its delivery function, will be locked against any further movement un-, til its controlling mechanism. is brought into action; to provide a feeding mechanism which operates positively upon and controlsthe article to be delivered and yet does not penetrate nor in eny 'manner deface said article; to provide means by which feed movements or deliveries can be counted or.

registered; to provide means for supporting the reel of articles, prevent its removal from the machine and properly present the strip to the feeding mechanism; to provide means by which a web of articles maybe supported, fed for delivery, controlled in its movements during the feeding action, the articles cut this description, myinventionwill be clearly Fig. 3 is an elevation of 2. portion of the Y feed-chains, a part being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the feed-pins; v

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certain. parts of the machine, the View being. made by breaking out certain parts;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation, with ports broken sway, of the feeding chain and chute;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken beside the feed-chain, showing details of the feeding and cutting mechanisms; i

Fig. 9 is a. rear elevation of the top of the machine showing the reel support, locking device and guiding means;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a. detail;

Fig.1l is a. top plan and partial section of a portion of the controllingmechanism;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the top of the feeding and guiding means, certain of the pcrtsbeing in section and others in elevation;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail the electric circuit.

Fig. 17: shows a detail. Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1. indicates the base of the frame, 2 a sideplate, 3 the back-plate, 4: the front-plate and 5 the top-plate, these parts being fitted and bolted together by cooperating. ears and lugs so as to provide e rigid and strong supporting frame. The front-plete is provided with a door 6, on which any desirable indicie. may be pieced and through which the mechanism can be reached. The door is provided with en opening 8, back of which is set a. dial 9, forming part of a. counting and registering device of any approved consprocket-wheel as is fixed, the same being driven by the sprocket-chain 46 from a counter-shaft and motor driven mechanism of any suitable type, but shown in my parent application as an electric motor and magnetic clutch device. Farther along on the shaft 18 is the disk 47 having the peripheral cam 48 cooperating with the anti-friction roll 49 carried by a releasing lever 50 fulcrumed at its upper end to any suitable fixed part of the machine, this lever being normally held in cooperation with said cam in any suitable way. The lever 50 cooperates with a pair of spring ringers 51 forming electrical contacts for cooperation with the contact-plate 52. carried by said lever, the contact fingers being supported by the post 53 secured in any suitable manner to the plate 14. Still farther along on the shaft 18 a radial arm 54; is fixed, the same cooperating with the arm 55 carried by the rock shaft 56 suitably journaled in hearings in the machine, these elements forming part of a coin-slide retrieving device, the details of which are not necessary to be described herein since they form no part of my present invention, but in connection with which it may be said that after the coin-slide has been forced to its rearward extreme and has performed necessary functions of tripping the machine into operation, said slide is positively started on its return movement by the said retrieving mechanism, just referred to.

Next to the arm 5-; on the shaft 18 is the disk57 provided with the peripheral groove 58 having the cam-jog 59 coiiperating with the pin 60 carried by the lever 61 connected at its forward end to a throat-plate 62 which latter cooperates with the coin-slide 36 for the purpose of passing the coin to the conveyer mechanism 21. The details of this throat-plate mechanism are not herein further described since it forms no part of my present invention. The cam-disk 57 is also provided in its right face with a cam-groove (33 in which runs a pin 64 carried at' one end of a slide-bar 65 guided in tne top of a standard 66 and confined to longitudinal reciprocations therein, said bar being pivotally connected at its rear end to the lower end of the lever 67 fulcrumcd midway between its ends at 68 to a suitable supporting-plate 69 and, at its upper end, being pivotally connected at 70, see particularly Fig. 2, to the rear end of a slide bar 71 guided inthe head 72 of the supporting-plate 69 in which head said bar is confined to longitudinal reciprocations. The bar 71 at its forward end is forked, see Fig. '11, as shown at 73, and in th forward end of the prongs of said fork has a gear-wheel 7e journaled, said gearwheel meshing with the gear-wheel carried by the shaft 4.2, the said gear wheels 74 and 75 having a ratio of 1 to l. The head 72 of the supporting-plate 69 has an extension 77 projecting toward the front of the machine and provided at its forward end with an adjustable pin ,or screw 7 8 held in fixed position by a screw 7 9 and the forward end of which is provided with an anti-friction roll or pin 80 operating in a longitudinal groove 81 in a reciprocating rack-bar 82, the teeth of which cooperate with the gear-wheel 74: when the latter has moved forward to produce such coijperation by means of the lever 67. The raclrbar 82 is inclined from front to rear of the machine, see Figs. 1, 2 and 6, and is of a length to extend from the plate 1% to substantially the top of the gear 74, and is normally held in its lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, by means of a strap 83 the free end of which is looped over a hook 84 on the lowe end of said rackbar, the other end of the strap being connected to the drum 85 journaled in the hanger 86 secured to the plate 1%. Said drum 85 is under control of the spring 87, the form of which is substantially the same as the main spring of a clock. The tension of the spring 87 may be adjusted in any suitable way, the means adopted by me being such as shown in my aforesaid parent application and consisting of a pawl and ratchet mech anism, and a crank being provided for manipulating the spring to adjust the tension. Tracks 88 are provided which are connected by means of the angle-plate 89, secured at its top to the top-plate 90 and at its bottom to the two said tracks 88. The topplate 90 forms the bottom of the ticket-feed chute, which at its top, is extended vertically at an an le to said top-plate, as at 91, and which extended portion cooperates with the disks 92 of the ticket-feelers. The central disk of the feeler is arranged midway of the chute extension 91 directly over a longitudinal slot 93 in the latter, while the other two disks of the feeler are arranged at opposit sides of said chute extension. [he central disk of the feeler, in the absence of tickets, will drop into the longitudinal slot 93, thus permitting the rod 94 to drop, which will turn the rock-shaft 95, resulting in depressing the stop-finger 96 on arm 97 into position such that the coin-slide will be prevented from moving forward by cooperation of its end with said finger. The rack-bar 82 operates in a slot 98 in the cutter-frame 99 and is rigidly held in its operative path by the pin 7 8 and by the feed car 100 to which it is rigidly connected by web 101. The rackbar is also steadied and guided in its movements by the lugs 102, at top and bottom thereof, which run in contact with the adjacent track-bar. The feed-car is composed of a solid and very heavy piece of metal and has journaled to it at opposite ends a pair Oi t1 groo es 19% of the hers 8', F 4 car has secured t each hreehet-plece 105 on which a catch 18 9317- oted 166., said ceteh having near its upper end a hoot: 10!. its iewer end.

necteci t0 it, the ether; e neat-e6. te fixed part ef t The catch being under spit mehy stands in the operative p= in Fig. 2, The upper end said catch is given Wedge or tit-angul r term as 110, the heel: it? ffiliilfid at the base hi the trieiigie, A step-screw 111 is set in the hiaeketpieee so as te have its forward. end pi'eject inte engagement with the teiipiece 05 seiti catch te limi its movements in that dilfiC lifl li, thus preventing its upger end time being thrown tee {at itemerd, the ObjQC't hemg t0 cause the hook 0:" the catch to eivm e i-i e in contact with but und -1" e1 the pins 119 ef the teed-chain, 0therwise the heel: 16? might run between the pins and interfere with the feed (it the chain. The upper end of the car 100 has extending from it a rigid arm 113 the upper end 015 which is termed into :1 heck l hecheti aim bars 88 and timing its hceh traverse ill its peel car 100- nt. its at 1 i 44 1 1 l .4 ,w

ieter iie eteti e il;

n 7 teem enci 01 g t0 eceive the l'- merit of tre'eiing between the teach 1 "0 111 5555 ti and and has one i? I i s e mit, Whieh here he eti- 313. e strength of the eprihg e115 7 e rn geinent with the stee ieid Q23 see S, The normal tendency et 135 is to force rciier 011 the 128 into engagement with the e116, to RlthCiItlW the depres- E red from the path of mete end at 'fOCi 125 has seemed tc it e Emitset a screw 13? said adjustable 011 said rod. The knitehiaete is secured in any suitable Way to the heicie 136 and extends :terwerd to the front 0f the machine, said blade having e transverse slbt 139 theteih fer the assage of the tickets to be cut 025 the Web and delivered t0 the epemtor The cuttingecige of the blade 1355 is termed 149 hf; heveiing the front wail of the slot 139 said cutting-edge ceeperating with the heveieci e the rear Wail of a transverse ever: end of the red. 121 with the depres- 6 in the rod 125, the release of the "31 ed by lifting the rod 121 enabling he to move the cutting-blade 1S8 eetcss -hiede A1 and sever one e2? mere The 4 movement it the cutter USCZ8W H setin the its ectieii ht e K JV ,4! W p1 etee m i-i-e it mg 111 e tithe er er end to the base mds said ZOd My said tube Figs. 7 and 10, along which the ticket web is fed. The surface of said plate 90 is also provided, along opposite sides of the ledge 149 with grooves 150 for the reception of the pin 151 carried by the laterally extending pivot-pins 112 which hold together the several link-plates 152 of the feed-chain; that is to say, the feed-chain shown in Figs. 3, 4C or 5 is composed of the link-plates 152 arranged in pairs, one end of which is provided with an aperture through which the pivot-pin 112 extends. The edges of the linkplates 152 cotiperate .with the angular notches 153 of the pivot pin 112, the linkplates and pins being thus prevented from having relative lateral movement. A linkbar 154; connects at adjacent ends'two pairs of link-plates 152, the connection being made by pins 155. According to my invention every other pair of link-plates 152 is connected to a link-bar 15 1 by'means of an extended pivot-pin 112. Each pivot-pin is also provided with apertures 156 in which are set the feed-pins 151 which in crosssection are made substantially triangular, as shown in Fig. 3, with the verticesv toward each other. These feed-pins 151 coiiperate with notches 158 in the web otarticles 159, see Figs. 7 and 9. said notches being formed to correspond substantially to the shape of said pins, and the said pins being spaced apart on the pivot-pins 112 the exact distance necessary to fit snugly in the said notches 158. The pins 151 are made just long enough to extend below the surface of the web 159 and travel within the grooves 150 of the top-plate 90 so as to obtain a substantial hold upon the web for feeding the samealong the ledge 149. In consequence, as the feed-chain travels along the ledge in contact with the web 159 the latter is fed positively and uniformly in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1 and 7, and when thepins reach the lower one of the sprocket-wheels 160 said pins will belifted away from the web and lose their feeding engagement therewith.- The sprocket-wheels are journaled at opposite ends of the frame 161 upon the pins 162, as clearly shown in Fig. 7: the said frame being composed of two like plates. Secured to the top-plate 90 by means of bars or brackets 163 is a chainguard 164, see Figs. 7 and 8, which extends between the two sprocket-wheels 160, said chain-guard lying close to the upper surfaceof that portion of the chain which is feeding the web 159 between said sprocket-wheels. The shaft or journal of the upper sprocketwheel 160 carries between the latter and the adjacent side-bar 161 a ratchet-wheel 165 under control of a spring-pawl 166 secured to said side-bar 161, said pawl preventing reverse movement of the feed-chain and sprocket-wheels and any back-lash which might otherwise occur in the operation of the machine. The teeth of the ratchet-wheel 165 are very fine or close together. In order to make the engagement of the feed-pins 151 with the notches 158 of the web absolutely certain, I have provided at the top of the feed-chute and directly under the feed-chain adjacent the upper sprocket-wheel 160 a bowed or convexed plate 167, see Fig. 12, extending approximately from the extension plate 91 to a position below the upper end of the chain guard 16%. The length of this convexedplate 167 which may be accurately set and made of rigid material, or may be made of resilient material, is caused to accord substantially with the distance the feed-pins-151 might travel without engaging the notches 158 in the web, it said plate were not interposed at this point. The provision of the plate, however, causes the web to rise into contact with the chain and thus bring the two into such intimate relation that "the feed-pins are compelled to enter accurately into the notches of the whb and practically up to their connection with the pivot-pins 112. This prevents any pos sibility of the feed-pins from only partially engaging the web and slipping therefrom or missing the same entirely as the said pins leave the sprocket-wheel at the upper end of the teed-chute. 1 consider this an important feature of my invention andlay stress upon it because by its use the accurate and positive feeding of the web is insured. At the lower end of the feed-chute below the lower sprocket-wheel l have provided a plate 168 connected by means of its flange and screw 169 to the cutter-frame 99 adjacent the ticket slot 142, theobject of this plate being to properly direct the lower end of the web, from which one or more tickets are to be cut into the said slot 142 and also to prevent said end of the web from springing out of place. This plate continues the feedchute at this point and operates as a cover for the latter to guard against displacement of the severed end of the web. For the same purpose and reasons, the bottom 115 of the feed-chute is either extended or provided with a lug or projection 17Q located opposite the plate 168 and extending into the slot of the cutter-frame, so as to form the back of and complete the passage for the web 159 in the said slot 142. The provision of these two parts 168 and 170 make certain the direction of the web into the slot 1 .12 and to the cutter and prevents any possibility of ,the end of said web springing or curling 'out of place or taking a wrong direction.

Theweb 159 is wound in cylindrical form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, and a number of these web cylinders 159 can beheld in reserve upon the supporting-bar 171 near the top of the machine-frame. When one of these web-cylinders is required for use it is slid e tn corresponding to the eh circle of numbers l the shaft 187 of the elnleer 1" is PIOYlClQCl with t-Yllfi ,l i638 The shaft 185 has a w i rxelel thereon, carrying a pawl l v- 1. 1 ctetl to a link 19 the upper end nae t the supgzor ing-ber o "ourneletl upon theshatt 187. The 1111 i have nrowtlecl the letter near its ree linh 191 carries the pawl 192, the two pawls ettt Wth 21 eireumteren fel gov-re 17%, see 1% and 192 cooperating respectively with 5 i 3 the ratchet-Wheels 186 and 188. A pin 193 3313:, en'iliee l e lower end of the link 1% rides cho 1;. s w in the lever 18). The lQYQL 189 r ects into the path of movement of the nil t 1 of the teed-chain, said normal operative posi- 1 o n E'Kl to said lever the letter be en 5 es heen removed thus heltl so as to he tripped into action 25 if? e the each and every plvoepin 112 which he 1 f 3 ornplete reciprocation or" the l irnher on the counter and on: the machine, since the s lain is no exact len th or etch 158 of and Wei) tl to the structur or l h ocloneter; but my 1nmeme r mechanism odometer and i116 relaehnnisln is the important my invention and tees, it heing under- 301 member of the counter grster the total number of arf om the machine irrespecer of Webs which may he "ne counter is for thepurpose ot 'erln me total number of articles (leiney h rl the partreuler Web 111 operatlve 711181 p men 1n LllB neclnnel The arrangement o e two eounters is such that the upper member cannot be reaehetl or tempered with,

lnd the numbers thereon are made to cornsponn Wnh the numbers of successn'e arm the Webs Wlnch may he numhererl .e consecutively, The lower member of the a counter, however, can he manipulated so as s to :eset t1e S31E18; as before sugg tetl, at if zero a "ter the numerals have been exhausted, r or the articles in a given roll have become W l of the feerl-trzune is: no t d "4", the lower end of which is connected to the journal-pin 197, working in the bottom-plate 115, said pin having connected to it a duplex-catch composed of similar arms 198, carried by and extending vertically therefrom, said pin being operated by the rod 196. The upper end of each of the arms 198 is provided with a notch 199, cooperating with a like notch 200, in the lower end of the top-plate 90. The arms 198 form a duplex-catch. The rod 196, near its lower end, is provided with the spread V-shaped portion201, the upper leg of which forms an angle 202, with its upper end, which is free. The car 100 is provided with the slide 203, running upon said rod 196, for the purpose of actuating the same according to the position said car be in; that is to say, in the position shown in Fig. 2, the slide 203 cooperates with the vertex of the V-shaped portion 201, of said rod, and has, in this position, rocked the same upon. its'journal 197, so as 'to throw the duplex-catch outwardly. The

upward travel of the slide of the car on the rod 196 causes the latter to rock in the opposite direction, which will throw the duplex-catch 198 inwardly into cooperation with the notched lower end 200 of thetopplate 90, thus bringing the two notched portions 199 and 200 into cooperation. in the above position, shown in Fig. 2, a laterally-extendingpivot-pin 112 is in engagement with the top of the duplex-catch 198, on both sides ofthe feed-chute. But, when the car 100 is in an upper position, ready for feeding the web, said duplex-catch will have been moved inwardly out of the path of travel of said chain-pins; hence, as the car descends, the chain can feed along normally until the angle 202 is reached; that is to say, the operation of the duplex-catch takes place according to the position of the slide 208, on the rod. from the angle 202to the vertex of the ii-shaped portion 201. linot-her words, in the upward travel'of the car, the slide 203, combined with the angle of the upper leg of the V-shapedmember 201, will cause the duplex-catch to bemovedto the closed position with its notch 199in c0- operation with the notch 200, of the topplate 90, and this closed-position will be maintained from the time the. said slide 203 passes the angle 202, from which point or time the duplex-catch is held in an inoperative position, permitting the pivot-pins 112 of the feed-chain to freely pass. This action is: true, likewise, on the ,downward movement of the car and until the slide 203 reaches the said angle 202, from which moment the duplex-catch will be moved outwardly toward the position shown in Fig. 2, which position it assumes and maintains simultaneously with the stopping of the car at the lower extreme of its movement. At this moment the pivot-pins 112 of the feedchain will engage the upper ends of the duplex-catch 198 and the feed movement of the chain will be instantlystopped and no further feed movement will be possible until the duplex-catch is again moved rearwardly, as before described.

The driving-shaft 18, at its extreme left end, Figs, 6 and 8, is provided with a ratchet-wheel 204, fixed thereto in any suitable way so as to rotate with it, and cooperating with said ratchet-wheel is a pawl 205, journalednpon a pin or stud 206, extending from the side-support 16. The pawl engages the ratchet-wheel by gravity though, obviously, it may be depressed by a spring,

and operates always in engagement with said ratchet-wheel to prevent any back. movement being imparted to the drivingshaft 18. This is an important element in my machine, since it prevents the operator, if using the hand-crank, from reversing the machine and thereby putting certain of the mechanism, including the feeding. or de livery mechanism, out of condition or jamming the machine in some other way. This device insures the proper forward rotation of the driving-shaft and delivery operations under any condition.

As previously stated, I may drive my machine by the hand-crank, by an ordinary treadle, or by a motor, and by the latter term I purpose including any mechanical motor whether driven by spring, compressed air, steam, or otherwise, and also an electric motor. I have found it, however, in practice satisfactory to employ an electric anotor, as set forth in my said parent application, it not being necessary, however, to show a motor in this case except-diagrammatically, as in Fig. 16.

Assuming the source of power, indicated by the positive sign i,the current will traverse the lead a to that one of the brushes 207 which cooperates with the slip-ring 208 near the magnetic clutch-member 209 and passing through the latter will, .by the proper lead, goto the slip-ring 210 and its cooperating brush 211 nearer to the motor 212 through which it passes, and still following the lead a will run to the first one of the contact-members 51 with which, the switch-bar 50 coiiperates, these contact-members being insulated from'and supported by the bracket-piece 53 secured to the plate 14;

of the machine. At this point the current cannot pass in the normal condition of the machine and can only pass when the contact-member 52 is in' cotipezative relation with the spring-contacts 51 to closev the cir cuit. Hence, the current will pass by way of the lead Z) to, for example, the twenty-five cent slide on the extreme right of the ma.- chine and will run tothe outer one of the contact-members 213 which, if the contactdevice 214 of the lever 215 of the tensile strength testing mechanism he in cooperative relation with said spring-contacts 218 Wlll pass the current o Way of the. lead al through to the source of power as indicated hv the negative sig" This completes a circuit and thereby drives the sprocket chain 46 and the driving-shaft 18 and the clutch-members will he into driving connection thus' iinpa rotary movement to the feed-gears l i ll and the f ed-shaft 4:2 resulting in a iiinctionsl operation, such as the delivery, in this instance, of five tickets from the During the rota on oi the drivin cam e7 will cooperate with the anti-friction roll s9 carried Toy the sn'itch ha-r 50, thus forcing the contact-member 52 hetsveen the two contacts 51, and substantially the same time, the mutilated-gear Z51 will co operate with rack 32 of the angular tripping-lever l3 thus lllt lll j the lever 215 and breaking tr e circuit through the con tactsnein cers and This 1 web 159.

til, creaking of the circuit thelead 5 taking place just after the lead a closed between the contact-gncmhers 51 and results'in shunting the current along lead s, the latter to the lead 6 and to the negative side of the or generator. causing the circuit to take place just after the closing of circuit at 51 spa ring is eliminated and the operation at the machine is rendered continuous. ine passing of the cam-portion from the roller l9 permits the spring 218 to I take control of "he switch-bar and thus Withdraivi s contact from the contact 51, and breaking; circuit a and stopping the Inacn'ine this action taking" place he end of a complete rotation of the dr' ingshaft, which produces, under the influence of a good coin of the proper denomination, a complete teed movement of the teed-chain and the severing and delivery of the number ct ticl'iets into the chute i it has been pointed out than in the rapid.

operation oi the feed-chain, as in feeding live tickets a time, and owing to the inertia of the web when first used, the letter 1s caused to spin and loosen quite a stretch of the web on the cylinder. tl hile this has never occurred to an objectionable degree essentials of my vending machine of unit t 7pe;'that is to say, though it has been assumed hroughout the description that the machine is to tend or deliver one, two or five articles, for convenience the coin-slide ineclianisnn located and adapted for delivering tire articles, or articles representing in value twenty 'ive cents has been descriloed. And should be borne in mind the this co1n-sl1de mechanism or unit can W to i 2, 6 and 16':

a source of electric the -5 rest and in reedi I the of one or more articles, as the case y and assuming s good coin e oper denomination, viz, a ttventviive niece inserted in the coin-aperture 3? e coinslide the operator Will pus'i ids inwardly or towerd the rear of "hine by means of the handle or ltnoh iereupon the coin Will undergo in sucseveral tests for magnetic Also lers are in engagement with at) the stopu'inger controlled thereby i r-oin interference *ith the the coin-slide The coin being and no obstruction being preto the coin-slider the operator will. oe note to force said slide to its rearward of iiioveinent causing the rear end sail slide to engage with the tri -rod of the tripping mechanism anddrire it oin its seat at The tripping mechanism thus set in operation, the lever 2 35 l he dropged so that its contectniemher Qll will cooperate With the contacts 213 and other parts of the machine Will he set in position preparatory to performing their respective fuctions. The contact being made at 213 the lead a is closed across the contacts 213 21st through the medium of the leads 5, the magnetic-clutch 209 will he set in operation, the motor 212 Will he set in operation, the sproclretwhein 46 will be driven, thus rotating the driving-shalt 18 through the medium of the sprocket-Wheel 4i". The driving-shaft being thus rotated the various elements and devices carried thereby are caused to produce in one cycle of movement of said shaft the following action of the feeding mechanism: The shaft in the earn-groove 68 inthe side of the disk '5? will operate upon the oin 6e and move the bar longitudinally, said bar in turn vibrating" the lever 8'? which will move the slide T3 forward, thus moving forward the lit? gear 74 which is always in mesh with the gear and also rides over the top of the latter. Engagement of the .gear 74 with the upper end of the rack-bar 82 is thus brought about, said rack-bar being connected to the feed-car 100, thus bringing about an operative relation between these and cooperating elements of the feeding mechanism. Shortly after this operation the jog in the peripheral cam-groove 58 of the disk 57 will actuate the lever 60 and move the throat-plate 62 so as to allow the coin in the aperture 37 of the coin-slide under the pressure of the ram of the tensile strength testing mechanism to be dropped into the chute and thence to the cups of the conveyer 21, the coin being subsequently carried to the coin-box, all as set forth in my said parent application. The clutch parts 29 having been brought into cooperation the feed-gear 40 will be driven, thus driving the cooperating gear 41 and actuating the feed-shaft 42 and the gear 75 fixed to the outer end thereof. Said gear 75 will thus drive the gear 74 now in mesh with the rack-bar 82 connected to the feedcar 100, thus causing said car to run up the tracks 88 and assume a position suitable for the engagement of its catches 107 with the opposite ends of a pin 112 of the feedchain and suiiiciently high to enable the proper length of the movement to be given to said chain to deliver five tickets from the web 159. At the same time the feedcar 100 was elevated, the lever 116 was released by the catch 114, thus permitting the spring 148 to swing said lever on its fulcrum through the medium of the rod 145, this swinging of the lever driving the lockingrod 121 downwardly so as to enter the aperture 126 in the cutter-rod 125 which, at the same time, was being operated upon by the lever 128, the anti-friction roll 133 of which coiiperates With the cam 134 on the driving-shaft 18, the operation of said cam upon said'lever forcing the said rod 125 forward, thus moving the cutter-plate 138 to its extreme or forward movement, in which position it is set by the cofiperation of the said rod 121 with the aperture 126. This movement of the cutting-blade causes the compression of the spring 135 resulting in storing power therein preparatory to a cutting operation presently to take place. Successively the coin-slide is returned to its original position, the tripping mechanism is recocked by seating the rod 34 upon the rest 35 and the tensile strength testing mechanism is returned to its normal position, thus breaking the contact between 214 and 213 this occurring substantially at the end of about three-quarters of the rotation of the driving-shaft. Just before the said contacts are separated to break the circuit the lead a is completed by the shifting of the contact-bar 50 so as to enter the contact 52 between the contacts 51, this being accomplished by the cam 47 carried by the driving-shaft operating upon the roll 49. This movement of the switch-bar 50 extends to spring 216, thus storing power therein to enable it to return said bar to an inoperative position at the proper time to break the lead a. As the trip mechanism is reset, as stated, the buffer post 44 is in position to engage the cover-cam 43 so as to bring the driving-shaft to a stop at the completion of a single rotation. During the last one-tenth, substantially, of the rotation of the driving-shaft the clutch mechanism is opened, thus preventing any further feed movement being given to the shaft 42 during the medium of the cotiperating gears 40 and 41 and the cooperating gears 74 and 75; electric circuit is broken by the separation of the contact-devices 51 and 52, the spring 216 operating to return the lever 50 to its normal position; and the main-shaft becomes locked by the buffer-cam 43. Also during the latter portion of the rotation of the driving-shaft the cam-disk 57 has been rotated to a position such that the jog in the cam-groove 63 will ride into coiiperation with the pin 64, resulting in reversing the movement of the lever 67 and withdrawing the gear 74 from the rack-bar 82. The moment this action takes place, which is coincident With the locking of the drivingshaft, the feed-car 100 descends thus causing the hooks 107 to engage the extended pivot-pins 112 of the feed-chain, which are immediately thereunder. The weight'of the car coupled with the impulse given the same by the tension-spring 87 connected to the rack-bar 82 causes said car to rapidly descend, thus imparting a rapid feed movement to the feed-chain, the feeding-pins 151 in the grooves 150 being in cotiperation with the notches 158 of the web, resulting in the delivery of the articles corresponding to the amount of feed movement given, which is dependent upon the coin-slide mechanism, which may be in operation. As the feedcar descends, or substantially at the time it reaches its lower limit of movement, the hook 114 carried by the bar 113 cotiperates with the lever 116, thus lifting the lockingrod 121 and permitting the power of the spring 135 'to drive the cutting-blade 138 into cotiperation with the ledger-blade 141, thus severing the web at this point for the delivery of the article, the latter dropping by gravity, after being thus severed by the web into the chute 12 where the operator can obtain the same. Also during the descent of the feedcar 100 the rod 196 is actuated by the slide 203 in coiiperation therewith, acting upon theV-shaped portion 201, the beginning of. such action being at or about the angle 202 and the action of said extencieci p in which are thi s prover & en ion h or reverse fermented by he eno'egeci 2 of the f stiy ehoye seici ee l-ohein from ther feed movement. I movement o the feed-ch u pewi and ratchet rteyic after it deiiyer cutting ineohenisni inst movement oi hein, es jns r r or i'yeeth the e j l v v, every article oemeieo, one son 0 r ,v I t e 5 pesses t given point i ioW {8, t 1 ,4 and i a i Z! M L A w i engage one e e:c the roan er-i g "9o instant movement o; .2 .1

eels oi the not eyeie of rnov men the .foregoin machine is a material its oin-receiving aperture for the reception o coin,

nether important device comes into play when the Web of connected eitieies, being SEVFEBti from the machine, feiis for any res son, such as when the Web becomes e2;- heusteoi or torn, separated ineny Way whereby the continuity of the Web is broken e entry end of the teed-chute, composed of the oisirs 92 jonrneied upon the short shaft carried by the arm 2E8 pivoted at one side of the feed-chute, as at 219, and supported in the position shown in Figs. 1. 2 and. 12 by reason of its central disk earring suhstantieiiy centreily upon the Web 159 it is f d in the feed-ehute end directly hove the slot 93 in the extension 91 thereoi his position the rod 9% is held so as to the crenhe'rm carried. by one end of the rock-shaft 95 which near its opposite .ri carries the erin 97 provided. with the i i-finger 96' which normally stands, in

this eonriition of ports, above and out of possible Contact "with the rear end of the eoin-siide 36. for any reason as previously snggesteei, erticies or the Web, shouici feii one; the centrei their oi the teeler shonici i ii Within the slot oi the feed-chute extension the rod connected to end vioh latter would immediately drop into n o" the coin-slide. With this condition par s, the coin-slide cannot be forced inwerdiy, since the earn-projection Wiii ener e the depending finger enci. the hitter, pivoted, -Wiii swing 21 short iistenoe reerwerdiy end engage a stop end thus hoidthe coin-siicie against turtheerearwerri movement. This condition may exist either by reason of the fact thst the Web oi articles at the entry end of the feedchute has heeon'ie exhausted before .9, funotionei operation is attempted, or even otter it functions} opera,- tion hes been proaiuoed hy the complete movement oif the siide, and then for some reeson the erticie or Web has heooine exted es nrevionsiy stated, Should this occur, the depending finger will in:-

sly drop to its proper position, out

rm carrying the pivoted finger 96,

ti so as to engage the corn-pro ection.

as the slide is at its rearward extreme, or the cam-projection 36 is at some point in rear of said finger, as the slide is moved back to its normal position, the cam-projection thereof will slide past the dependingfinger 96 by reason of the fact of its being pivoted and no impediment is presented to its operation in that direction, as clearly indicated in Fig. 17. The cam-projection of the slide having thus passed the finger, the latter will immediately swing to its normal vertical position in the path of travel of the said cam-projection, thus presenting a stop to the rearward movement of the coinslide, under any circumstance, as above 'sug gested. Inconsequence, even though a coin be depositedin the coin-slide in preparation for a functional operation of the machine, the foregoing operation will take place since the depending-finger will engage the camprojection and stop the movement of the coin-slide prior to the coin in the coin-slide passing into cooperation with the gage-disk 220 of the thickness gaging means. Hence, though a coin has been deposited in the coin-slide, there will be no feed action and the coin may be recovered by the operator because the slide will return to its normal position where the coin can be 'taken from the slide. This mechanism is also of great importance as a means by which to positively lock the machine against a functional or feeding operation at any time, even though the machine be full of tickets, since the rod 94.- can be disconnected at either end so as to permitthe depending-finger 96 to drop down into its functional position and thus lock the coin-slide against rearward movement. This is a great advantage at times when an owner desires to put the machine out of action and leave it for any purpose. The feeler, by being provided with the three disks, shown in Fig. 7, can be always maintained in its proper operative position, since the two outer disks cooperate with the feed-chute extension and operate as a guide and retainer to hold said feeler in its proper position and steady it in its operations.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the web of articles fails, for any reason, the feeding mechanism cannot be brought into operation for any purpose since the coin-slide cannot be operated t-o actuate the trip mechanism and start the machine into operation, as has been described. This is an important feature of my invention and upon it I desire to lay stress since the absence of the web 159 at any time from the teed-chute which would prevent the delivery of an article from themachine would immediately be detected and ifthe coin-slide were not located as described" the machine would take the money of the operator without delivering an article for it. Hence, the feelcr and its actuating mechanism becomes a positive lock for the feeder against afeeding action to prevent the delivery mechanism of the machine performing anyoperat-ion, functional or otherwise, in the event there be no web or article to be delivered properly disposed in cooperative relation with the feeding mechanism.

By numbering the tickets consecutively which numbering will be made to correspond with the numbering in the counter, and by placing a number of web-cylinders in storage in the machine, as shown in Fig. 9, the owner or operator of a given machine can prevent loss of tickets, or mistake in resetting the machine, since a great number of rolls of articles, consecutively numbered, can be placed in proper sequence in storage in thetmachine, which rolls or cylinders will be moved in regular order into position for delivery from the machine. By this means, the user of the machine can, through his in spectors, have an infallible check upon his employees both against their mistakes and their dishonesty.

It should now be understood that, in order to produce the proper feed or delivery of articles in proportion, or in corresponding value, to the difierent coins to be used in the respective units, differential ears, which will control the proportional Feed, must be provided. In order that the differential gears controlling the feed and delivery of articles may be under the control, respectively of the coin-slide units, and yet be arranged compactly in a gang-machine, I have mounted the gear 40 on the drivingshaft 18 which cooperates with the gears ll on the feed-shaft 42. The gear on the shaft 42 is fixed thereto while the gear on the main-shaft 18 is loose thereon and is brought into coiiperat-ion only by the clutch-rings or circles of teeth 29. Hence, a given differential feed-gear, when brought into operation through said clutch-rings, will control the feed of the articles by rotating the shaft 42 which, nevertheless, by reason of the gear 41 being fixed thereto, will also drive its complement-a1 gear on the driving-shaft, but without function, since the latter is free to run on said shaft because the clutch-memhers arenot in operative engagement. It is important, therefore, that not more than one pair of clutch-devices 29 shall be in cotiper ative relation at one time during any given cycle of the machine or rotation of the driving-shaft, in a gang-machine, and as the clutch-mechanism is dependent for its operations upon the operation of the coin-slide mechanism, a means has been provided by which to prevent the operation of more than one coinslide mechanism at a time. This means cdn'sists of the addition to each coinslide of a rod 221, in parallelism with the rod 222 so located as to enter between the balls 223 contained in the holder 22% when the co1n-slideis pushed 1n. Since the can ricr is so proportioned as to receive just the number of balls necessary to provide between any tvvo of them space suliicient only for the reception or passage of one rod 2-21 it is obvious that only one rod and. consequently, only one slide 36 at a time can be forced rearvvardly for a functional operation oi the machine, and any attempt to force more than one slide at a time, or force one slide in after another, will result in preventing in the first instance, both slides being pushed to a functional position, or all but one slide being pushed to a functional position in the second instance. And it should here be borne in mind that the pawl 225, on rock-shaft 2Z6 operates to look aslide'at substantially the extreme of its inward movement and thus'prevent said slide from being vvithdrawn after the rod Sl has been tripped from its seat to start the machine for a functional operation. Being so held, the c0inslide cannot be quickly withdrawn so as to permit the forcing in of a slide of another unit in an attempt to bring about an additional and greater feed movement for the purpose of obtaining an increased delivery from the machine. This pawl cooperating with the slide, as just described, also prevents the machine from being jammed by forcing two slides rearwardly in quick succession. It should also be noted that the length of the rod 221 is such that its pointed nose is entered betvvee..-

the balls practically at the beginning of 1.- rearward movement of the coin-slide the result of Which is that, after a slide has been started to functional position, it is impossible to start another in the same manner and slide must be returned practically to its starting position before another can be'started on a functional movement. in producing the o'anganachine it will be understcodthat it is only necessary elongate the carrier and add the retpiisit-e number balls to correspond with the. units added the machine.

From the foregoing description it ivill be apparent that my machine automatically feeds delivers quantity and under perfect and autoinali control; that the control is primarily, by the coin and secondarily, by the train of mecha nism intervening between the coin-slide feeding mechanism; that the reedin. and delivery of articles is positive, accurat and predetermined.

Having thus described my invention 'vvhat l claim and desire to secure bv Letters Patent is: m

ft i ec'ling mechanism for i l sing" an endless chain together at inl'ei Jals pins extending beyond the links on opposite sides of the chain driving means cooperating ivith the extensions of said pins for traversing the chain; and mechanism for actuating the driving means.

In a machine of the character described the combination of a circularly moving device adapted to feed a ticket strip; means for severing said strip at the end of each feeding operation; a member adapted to actuate said feeding device; means for setting the severing means preparatory to its functional movement and at the same time moving said member into position preparatory to its actuating movement; and means for causing said member to drive said feeding" device and, at the end of the feed ing i'novement to actuate the severing means to sever the strip.

3. A feeding mechanism for vending niachines comprising a carrier having projections extending laterally therefrom; and means for actuating said carrier including a spring controlled device for engaging said projections to traverse the carrier.

l. A feeding mechanism for vending nun chines comprising a chain and sprocket mechanism; means carried by said mechanism for engaging the articles to be delivered; means for engaging the chain of said mechanism including a controlling device for varying the feed movement of said mechanism; and means for actuating the controlling means to cause delivery of articles according to predetermination.

i-i vending machine comprising delivery mechanism, including a Weighted actuating device; means for controlling the initial position oi? saidiveighted device and setting the same in operation; and means for setting the controlling means in operation.

6. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a device for engaging the articles to be delivered a reciprocating sprin r-controlled device cooperating With said delivery device, and means between the tvvo cooperating to produce a positive en- 'ageinent for tr 'ersiug the delivery device,

2A 7. 2t feeding mechanism for vending inachines comprising a chain formed of links pivoted together by pins, certain of said pins being extended a considerable distance on opposite sides or said links so as to provide a means for traversing the chain, and said pins and the links through which they extend having cooperating means which prevent said links and pins from having axial movement relatively.

8. i l feeding mechanism for vending inahines comprising a chain ccinposcd oi links incd together perimlically by pins having l'cral extensions. said pins being provided with angular notches for r ceiving 'tuc edges of the joined links whereby axial movement of the pins and links relatively is prevented.

9. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a chain composed'of links joined together periodically by pins extending laterally in opposite directions from said links, said extensions of the pins being each provided with a pin arranged at a rightangle to it.

10. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a flexible chain having extending from its side a plurality of projections, each projection being provided With a pin extending therefrom at a right-angle.

11. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a chain having projections extending laterally therefrom, said projections being provided with pins angular in cross-section.

12. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a flexible device for engaging the articles to be delivered; a chute for said articles comprising a support for the latter, said chute having beside the said support a longitudinal groove; and means cooperating with the articles to be delivered and extending into said groove whereby to bring about a positive engagement between the said articles and the delivery means.

13. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a flexible device forengaging and feeding strips of articles to be delivered; a chute in which the strip of articles travels under the influence of the feeding device; and means for positively lifting the strip of articles to be delivered into engagement with the feeding device to secure the proper cooperative engagement between said device and said strip.

14. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a flexible device for engaging the articles to be delivered; a chute for receiving the articles to be delivered having means for guiding said articles in their travel through the chute, and means carried by the flexible device, also cooperating with said guide to prevent said device from having lateral movement relatively to the chute.

15. A feeding mechanism for vending machines comprising a flexible carrier for engaging the articles to be delivered; guiding means for the articles to be delivered arranged in cooperative relation to the engaging means; means for imparting to the engaging means a movement of predetermined extent; and positive means coiiperating with said engaging means to prevent the latter at any time during its operation, from having a retrograde movement.

16. A feeding mechanism for vending machines having, in combination, means for engaging th articles to be delivered; and

anti-friction devices, and tracks for said anti-friction devices.

17. A feeding mechanism for vending machines having, in combination, means for engaging the articles to be delivered; and means for actuating the engaging means including a reciprocating weighted device, means for positively moving said device in one direction, and means for permittin the movement of said device in the other irection.

18. A feeding mechanism for vending machines having, in combination, means for engaging the articles to be delivered; means for actuating the engaging means including a reciprocating device; means for actuating the reciprocating device including a rack and pinion; and means for restricting one of said last named devices to a single path of movement.

19. A feeding mechanism for vending machines having, in combination, means for engaging the articles to be delivered; means for actuating the engaging means to drive the same including a reciprocating member confined to operation in a single path. and a cooperating member having a rotary movement and a reciprocating movement toward and from the reciprocating member.

20. Arfeeding mechanism for vending machines including a flexible device for engaging the articles to be delivered; means for imparting movement to said flexible device including a weighted car provided with anti-friction rolls; tracks in which said rolls travel and are guided; means for moving said car in one direction partially carried by said car; and means for moving said car in opposite direction partially carried by said car.

21. A feeding mechanism for vending machines including means for engaging the articles to be delivered; and devices for actuating said engaging means including an inclined track; a car traveling thereon; yielding means carried by the car for cooperating with the engaging means; and means whereby the car is lifted in the track and then tripped into action.

22. A feeding mechanism for vending machines having, in combination, means for engaging the articles to be delivered; and means for actuating the engaging means 1ncluding an inclinedtrack; a weighted car traveling thereon; a rack-bar carried by the car; a tension-device engaging the rack-bar; a gear cooperating with the rack-bar; and means for disengaging the gear from the rack-bar to enabl the tension-device to control the action of the car.

28. A feeding device for vending machines having, in combination, means for en- 

